PATIENTS are expected to be moved back into parts of the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales within 36 hours.
The hospital was closed by water damage caused by torrential rain earlier in the week. Eighteen children were moved to other child health areas and staff were able to maintain paediatric emergency and elective services.
Staff from the hospital and the health board’s estates team, supported by contractors, have been pulling out all the stops to assess the damage and carry out repairs.
Phil Barry, Directorate Manager for Child Health, said: “All the staff involved have been fantastic. Our priority has been to provide an environment and safe care to all those affected by the incident. Clinical, estates and operational services staff have been working together to begin putting things right and re-establish care in the Children’s Hospital.
“We are now hoping to be able to move the first group of patients back into the Children’s Hospital by Thursday which is a testament to the hard work everyone has put in.”
Work to determine the exact cause of the ingress and to asses the extent of the damage to the higher floors, where water has been found in the electrical trunking systems and light fittings, will be continuing over the next few days.
Services at the hospital have remained in place during the disruption and patients and their families are advised to continue attending as normal unless otherwise advised.
Maria Battle, the health board’s Chair, praised staff for keeping services going.
She said: “Staff at the hospital reacted calmly and swiftly to make sure everyone was safe and moved out of the affected areas and have been outstanding in making sure that services for children have not been disrupted during what was an unusual challenge for everyone involved.
“I would like to thank them and the estates team for the excellent work they have done over the last two days to tackle the problem and make swift progress in carrying out repairs.”
For the full Press Release from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board please click here
